Airport services resumed seven hours after power was restored in Heathrow terminals.
Heathrow airport's lights flickered back on almost eight long hours before regular flights resumed, according to an initial report from the National Energy System Operator (NESO). The restorations began as early as 10:56 AM on March 21, but flights didn't take off until around 6 PM.
NESO confirmed that power was successfully funneled to the "Heathrow Airport Limited" network at 2:23 PM, following a meticulous safety inspection to ensure the airport's safety-critical systems were functioning optimally before the host of travelers descended upon the terminals.
With over 270,000 air passenger journeys disrupted due to the airport's abrupt closure, the fire at the North Hyde substation in west London set the stage for a chaotic night. The fire's origin remains a mystery.
The incident report revealed that one of the supergrid transformers, devices essential for distributing electricity efficiently, lost its connection, often referred to as tripping, at 11:21 PM on March 20. This mishap eventually led to a raging inferno, engulfing the transformer.
In a cruel twist of fate, the adjacent transformer also tripped at 11:49 PM, causing a chain reaction that severed the last remaining connection from the North Hyde substation. The report stated: "The result was the loss of all power supply from North Hyde 275kV substation, affecting thousands of customers, including Heathrow Airport."
Heathrow airport expressed concern over the circumstances, placing the blame on National Grid, who own the substation, and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), responsible for the area's power distribution. A spokesperson claimed, "The NESO report raises essential questions for both National Grid and SSEN, hoping the final report offers answers on why the fire started and why two transformers were affected."
Reports suggest that edited versions of the incident rules out any signs of suspicious activity, with the possibility of foreign agents or terrorists being dismissed. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who ordered the investigation, stated, "Investigations by the London Fire Brigade and National Grid Electricity Transmission are ongoing. We await the full report, set to be published by the end of June, to learn the truth behind the incident and apply lessons to fortify our country's energy infrastructure."
[1]: Heathrow airport website: Heathrow terminal outage causes travel disruption for tens of thousands. [https://www.heathrow.com/news/terminal-outage-causes-travel-disruption-for-tens-of-thousands][2]: BBC News: Heathrow airport disruption: What we know so far. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-56866004][4]: Sky News: Heathrow disruption: What we know about the power outage that closed terminal. [https://news.sky.com/story/heathrow-disruption-what-we-know-about-the-power-outage-that-closed-terminal-12243917]
[1] The sudden disruption at Heathrow airport, caused by a power outage, has severely impacted the finance industry, as thousands of stranded travelers may demand compensation for their delayed or canceled flights.
[2] The transportation sector has also suffered due to the airport's closure, with many arrival and departure flights delayed, causing congestion in the roads and add to the already strained public transportation system in London.
